For the first time in the 10-year history of the Filoil Flying V Preseason, San Beda College was left out of the Final Four.

Of course, it was just the preseason, but it – along with oncoming Jiovani Jalalon and Arellano University – nonetheless added fuel to the fire of criticizing second-year head coach Jamike Jarin. In particular, alumni continued questioning his penchant for not leaning on his veterans much, much more.

Since a season ago, the multi-titled mentor in the UAAP Juniors has been defending his philosophy of going 15-deep, or put simply, using all of his players.

Those critics may well wait no longer because this year seems to be when Jarin reaps what he had sowed. While he has no player on the level – yet – of the holy trinity of Ola Adeogun, Baser Amer, and Art dela Cruz, what he has are 15 Red Lions capable of contributing at any given time.

Leading the charge in filling in the shoes of the now-departed holy trinity are Javee Mocon, Dan Sara, and Donald Tankoua – three players who had flashes of brilliance last year and will now be tasked to do so consistently.

Right behind those three, just biding his time to bust out, is AC Soberano who has become perhaps the top sniper in the collegiate ranks today. Robert Bolick, former enforcer for De La Salle University, is also good to go for his debut in red and white.

Any other team would have fallen off a cliff without all three of Adeogun, Amer, and dela Cruz and yet San Beda remains in contention. Talking about making sure there is always a next man up, Jarin said, “You try to develop their character because you can’t simulate this in practices. There are comments like ‘What is he doing?’”

He then continued, “But that’s the point. You let all your players be part of what is going on in the game.”

Still, the former Ateneo de Manila High School mentor disagreed that the Lions remain one of the teams to beat.

While acknowledging that he has everything he needs to bring back the crown to Mendiola, Jarin said his young team still has a ways to go to do so. As he put it, “That’s the danger sometimes when you are good. You know you’re good already and that’s the danger.”

He then continued, challenging his wards in the process, “The question is though, how can you be better? Then if you are better, how can you be the best?”